Inkjet printing apparatus

ABSTRACT

In an inkjet printing apparatus, in response to reception of a copy instruction, a controller causes the scanner to read an image formed on an original, generates image data representing the image on the original, and determines a standby period corresponding to an operation mode. In response to elapse of the standby period since the copy instruction was received, the controller separates a cap and an inkjet head. After the cap and the inkjet head separated each other, the controller causes the inkjet head to eject ink droplets based on the image data. The controller determines the standby period such that the separation of the cap and the inkjet head executed in parallel with reading of the image on the original finishes at the same time or earlier than generation of image data necessary to start to print the read image printing process in reading the image on the original.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation application of U.S. Ser. No.15/902,257 filed on Feb. 22, 2018, which is a continuation applicationof U.S. Ser. No. 15/386,127 filed on Dec. 21, 2016, now U.S. Pat. No.9,902,155 issued on Feb. 27, 2018 and claims priority under 35 U.S.C. §119 from Japanese Patent Application No. 2015-254915 filed on Dec. 25,2015. The entire subject matter of the application is incorporatedherein by reference.

BACKGROUND

Technical Field

The present disclosures relate to an inkjet printing apparatus which isconfigured to execute a copying process in which an image read by ascanner is printed on a sheet with a printer.

Related Art

Conventionally, in a field of a printing apparatus, an attempt has beenmade to shorten an FCOT (first copy output time), which represents atime period from depression of a start button to start a copying processto a time at which a first sheet on which an image is formed has beenoutput (i.e., discharged from the printing apparatus). One knowntechnique to shorten the FCOT is to control a start timing of a startupprocess of an image forming device so that a startup process of areading device and the startup process of the image forming device arecompleted at the same time.

SUMMARY

According to such a conventional technique, a reading process followingthe completion of the startup process of an image reading device, and animage forming process following the completion of the startup process ofthe image forming device are started at the same time. However, in apractical use, there occurs a standby period before execution of theimage forming process during which image data, which is to be used inthe image forming process, is generated in the image reading process.

Typically, during the startup process of the image forming device whichis configured to print images in accordance with an inkjet printingmethod, an uncap process to uncap the inkjet head and a process to causethe inkjet head to eject ink droplets are executed. Therefore, if a timeperiod from the completion of the startup process of the image formingdevice to a timing at which the image forming process is actuallyexecuted is relatively long, that is, if the time period during whichthe image data to be used in the image forming process is generated inthe reading process is relatively long, there may occur a problem thatthe ink is dried inside the inkjet head which has been uncapped.

According to aspects of the disclosures, there is provided an improvedinkjet printing apparatus in which drying of the ink in the inkjet headas described above is suppressed, which the FCOT is shortened.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF ACCOMPANYING DRAWINGS

FIG. 1A is a perspective view of an MFP (multi-function peripheral) whenan FB (flatbed) cover is located at an opening position.

FIG. 1B is a perspective view of the MFP when the FB cover is located ata closing position.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional side view of a printer of the MFPschematically showing an inside configuration thereof.

FIG. 3 is a plan view of a carriage and guide rails of the printer ofthe MFP.

FIG. 4 schematically shows a configuration of a maintenance device ofthe printer of the MFP.

FIG. 5A schematically shows a switching mechanism at a first drivingstate.

FIG. 5B schematically shows the switching mechanism at a second drivingstate.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing a configuration of the printer.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating a scanning process.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart illustrating a print process.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart illustrating a standby period determining process.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Hereinafter, an illustrative embodiment according to the disclosureswill be described, referring to the accompanying drawings. It is notedthat the illustrative embodiment described below is only one exampleaccording to the disclosures, and may be modified in various wayswithout departing from the aspects of the disclosures. In the followingdescription, a term “direction” will be used to express a directiondirected from a start point of an arrow toward an end point of thearrow, or a direction (regardless of its orientation) parallel to a linesegment connecting the start point and the end point of the arrow. Theformer may also be expressed as an “orientation direction” in order tostress that the orientation should also be considered.

Further, an up-down direction 7 is defined based on a state where an MFP(multi-function peripheral) 10 is placed for used (e.g., a state shownin FIG. 1). In the state as shown in FIG. 1, a front-rear side 8 is alsodefined such that a side where an opening 13 is formed is a front side.Further, a right-left side 9 is defined when the MFP 10 is viewed fromthe front side thereof.

<Overall Configuration of MFP>

As shown in FIGS. 1A and 1B, the MFP 10 has a substantiallyrectangular-parallelepiped shape. The MFP 10 has a printer 11 and ascanner 90. It is noted that the MFP 10 is an example of an inkjetprinting apparatus.

<Printer>

The printer 11 employs a so-called inkjet printing method and isconfigured to execute a printing operation to print images representedby image data on sheets 12 (see FIG. 2) by ejecting ink dropletsthereon. As shown in FIG. 2, the printer 11 has a feeder assembly 15, afeed tray 20, a discharge tray 21, a conveying roller assembly 54, aprinter assembly 24, a discharge roller assembly 55, and a platen 42. Itis noted that the conveying roller assembly 54 and the discharge rollerassembly 55 are examples of conveying assembly.

<Feed Tray and Discharge Tray>

On a front side of the printer 11, an opening 13 (see FIG. 1) is formed.The feet tray 20 is configured to be inserted in/withdrawn from theprinter 11 in the front-rear direction 8 through the opening 13. Thefeed tray 20 is configured to support multiple sheets 12 in a stackedmanner. The discharge tray 21 is configured to catch and support thesheets 12 discharged, by a discharge roller assembly 55, from theprinter 11 through the opening 13.

<Feeder Assembly>

The feeder assembly 15 has a feeding roller 25, a feeder arm 26 and ashaft 27. The feeding roller 25 is rotatably supported at a distal endpart of the feeder arm 26. The feeding roller 25 is configured to rotateto feed the sheet 12 in a conveying direction 16 (i.e., leftward in FIG.2) when a feeding motor 101 (see FIG. 6) rotates in a forward direction.The rotation of the feeding roller 25 to feed the sheet 12 will also bereferred to as a forward rotation. The feeder arm 26 is rotatablysupported by the shaft 27, which is supported by a frame of the printer11. The feeder arm 26 is urged such that the feeding roller 25 is urgedtoward the feed tray 20 by its own weight or an elastic force using anelastic member such as a spring.

<Sheet Conveying Passage>

A sheet conveying passage 65 is a space defined by guide members 18, 19,30 and 31. The guide members 18 and 19 face each other, inside theprinter 11, with a particular clearance therebetween, and the guidemembers 30 and 31 face each other, inside the printer 11, with aparticular clearance therebetween. The sheet conveying passage 65 is apassage extending upward from a rear end of the feed tray 20, making aU-turn at an upper-rear part of the printer 11, and then extendingfrontward to reach the discharge tray 21. It is noted that a conveyingdirection 16 of the sheet 12 in the sheet conveying passage 65 isindicated with an arrowed one-dot line in FIG. 2.

<Conveying Roller Assembly>

The conveying roller assembly 54 is arranged on an upstream side in theconveying direction 16 with respect to the printer assembly 24. Theconveying roller assembly 54 has a conveying roller 60 and a pinchroller 61, which face each other. The conveying roller 60 is driven bythe conveying motor 102 to rotate. The pinch roller 61 is driven torotate in association with rotation of the conveying roller 60. Thesheet 12 is nipped by the conveying roller 60 and the pinch roller 61,and conveyed along the conveying direction 16 as the conveying motor 102rotates forwardly and the conveying roller 60 rotates forwardly inassociation with the forward rotation of the conveying motor 102. It isnoted that the conveying roller 60 is configured to rotate reversely inassociation with a reverse rotation of the conveying motor 102, which isopposite to the forward rotation of the conveying motor 102.

<Discharge Roller Assembly>

A discharge roller assembly 55 is arranged on a downstream side, in theconveying direction 16, with respect to the printer assembly 24. Thedischarge roller assembly 55 has a discharging roller 62 and a spurroller 63. The discharging roller 62 is driven by a conveying motor 102to rotate. The spur roller 63 rotates in association with rotation ofthe discharging roller 62. The sheet 12 is nipped by the dischargingroller 62 and the spur roller 63, and conveyed along the conveyingdirection 16 as the conveying motor 102 rotate forwardly and thedischarge roller 62 rotates forwardly in association with the forwardrotation of the conveying motor 102.

<Registration Sensor>

The printer 11 has a registration sensor 120 (see FIG. 2). Theregistration sensor 120 is arranged on an upstream side, in theconveying direction 16, with respect to the conveying roller assembly54. The registration sensor 120 is configured to output differentdetection signals depending on whether the sheet 12 is present or absentat the position where the registration sensor 120 is arranged.Specifically, the registration sensor 120 transmits a high-level signalto a controller 130 (see FIG. 6) in response to detection of presence ofthe sheet 12 at the arranged position, while transmits a low-levelsignal to the controller 130 in response to detection of absence of thesheet at the arranged position.

<Rotary Encoder>

The printer 11 has a rotary encoder 121 (see FIG. 6) which is configuredto output a pulse signal in accordance with rotation of the conveyingroller 60 (in other words, in response to rotation of the conveyingmotor 102). The rotary encoder 121 is of a well-known type and has anencoder disc and an optical sensor. The encoder disc is configured torotate in association with a rotation of the conveying roller 60. Theoptical sensor is configured to read the encoder disc to generate thepulse signal, and transmits the thus generated pulse signal to thecontroller 130.

<Printer Assembly>

The printer assembly 24 is arranged between, in the conveying direction16, the conveying roller assembly 54 and the discharge roller assembly55 as shown in FIG. 2. Further, the printer assembly 24 is arranged toface, in the up-down direction, the platen 42. The printer assembly 24is provided with a carriage 23, the inkjet head 39 and an encoder sensor38A. Further, to the carriage 23, an ink tube 32 and a flexible flatcable 33 are connected as shown in FIG. 3. The ink tube 32 serves tosupply ink of the ink cartridge to the inkjet head 39. The flexible flatcable 33 serves to electrically connect a control circuit boardimplemented in the controller 130 with the inkjet head 39.

The carriage 23 is slidably supported by guide rails 43 and 44, whichare arranged to be spaced in the front-read direction 8 and each ofwhich extends in the right-left direction 9 as shown in FIG. 3. Thecarriage 23 is connected to a well-known belt-driving mechanismassociated with the guide rail 44. The belt-driving mechanism is drivenby a carriage motor 103 (see FIG. 6). That is, the carriage 23 isconnected to a belt of the belt-driving mechanism, which belt is drivento circumferentially move by the carriage motor 103, thereby thecarriage 23 being reciprocally moved in a main scanning direction whichis parallel to the right-left direction 9.

The inkjet head 39 is mounted on the carriage 23 as shown in FIG. 2. Ona bottom surface of the inkjet head 39, multiple nozzles 40 are formed.The inkjet head 39 ejects ink droplets through the multiple nozzles 40.Specifically, while the carriage 23 is moving, the inkjet head 39 ejectsthe ink droplets to the sheet 12 supported by the platen 42, thereby animage is formed on the sheet 12.

A belt-like encoder strip 38, which extends in the right-left direction,is attached to the guide rail 44 (see FIG. 3). The encoder sensor 38A ismounted on the bottom surface of the carriage 23 at a position where theencoder sensor 38A faces the encoder strip 38B. As the carriage 23moves, the encoder sensor 38A reads the encoder strip 38B and generatesa pulse signal, and transmits the thus generated pulse signal to thecontroller 130. It is noted that the encoder sensor 38A and the encoderstrip 38B constitute a carriage sensor 38 (see FIG. 6).

<Platen>

The platen 42 is arranged between, in the conveying direction 16, theconveying roller assembly 54 and the discharge roller assembly 55 asshown in FIG. 2. Further, the platen 42 is arranged to face, in theup-down direction, the printer assembly 24. The platen 42 is configuredto support the sheet 12, which is conveyed by at least one of theconveying roller assembly 54 and the discharge roller assembly 55, frombelow.

<Maintenance Device>

The printer 11 has a maintenance device 70 as shown in FIG. 3. Themaintenance device 70 is used for maintenance of the inkjet head 39.Specifically, the maintenance device 70 executes a purge operation tosuck the ink and/or air inside the nozzles 40 and foreign substancesadhered onto a nozzle surface. It is noted that the nozzle surface is asurface of the inkjet head 39 on which the nozzles 40 are formed. In thefollowing description, the ink and/or air inside the nozzles 40 and theforeign substances adhered onto the nozzle surface will be simplyreferred to as “ink and the like” for brevity. The sucked/removed inkand the like by the maintenance device 70 is stored in a waste-liquidtank 74 (see FIG. 4).

As shown in FIG. 3, the maintenance device 70 is arranged on an outerside (i.e., the right side) with respect to a sheet passage range. Thesheet passage range is a range, in the main scanning direction, withinwhich the sheet 12 conveyed by the conveying assembly 54 passes. Themaintenance device 70 has a cap 71, a tube 72 and a pump 73 (see FIG.4).

The cap 71 is made of rubber. The cap 71 is arranged to face thecarriage 23 which is located on the right side with respect to the sheetpassage range. Further, the cap 71 is movable between a cap position andan uncap position. When located at the cap position, the cap 71 coversthe nozzle surface, while when located at the uncap position, the cap 71is spaced from and uncovers the nozzle surface. It is noted that the capis moved between the cap position and the uncap position by a liftingmechanism which is driven by the feeding motor 101. The tube 72 extendsfrom the cap 71 to the waste-liquid tank 74 via the pump 73. The pump 73is, for example, a rotary type tube pump. The pump 73 is driven by theconveying motor 102 to operate to suck the ink and the like in thenozzles 40 through the cap 71 and the tube 72, and discharge the same inthe waste-liquid tank 74 though the tube 72.

<Ink Receiver>

The printer 11 has an ink receiver 75 (see FIG. 3). The ink receiver 75is arranged at a position on the other side (i.e., left side), in themain scanning direction, with respect to the sheet passage range. Theink receiver 75 has a substantially rectangular-parallelepiped shapehaving an opening on an upper surface thereof. Inside the ink receiver75, an ink absorbing member is accommodated. The ink discharged from thenozzles 40 of the inkjet head 39 toward the opening of the ink receiver75 is caught by the ink receiver 75 and absorbed by the ink absorbingmember inside the ink receiver 75.

<Driving Force Transmission Assembly>

The printer 11 is provide with a driving force transmission assembly 80(see FIG. 6). The driving force transmission assembly 80 is configuredto transmit driving forces of the feeding motor 101 and the conveyingmotor 102 to the feeding roller 25, the conveying roller 60, thedischarging roller 62, the lifting mechanism of the cap 71 and the pump73. The driving force transmission assembly 80 is configured bycombining all or parts of gears, pulleys, an endless annular belt, aplanetary gear mechanism (a pendulum gear mechanism), and a one wayclutch and the like. Further, the driving force transmission assembly 80includes a switching mechanism 170 (see FIG. 5) configured to switchdestinations of the driving forces of the feeding motor 101 and theconveying motor 102.

<Switching Mechanism>

The switching mechanism 170 is configured such that the driving statecan be switched between the first driving state and the second drivingstate. The first driving state is a state in which the driving force ofthe feeding motor 101 is transmitted to the feeding roller 25, but notto the lifting mechanism of the cap 71. Further, in the first drivingstate, the driving force of the conveying motor 102 is transmitted tothe conveying roller 60 and the discharging roller 62, but not to thepump 73. The second driving state is a state in which the driving forceof the feeding motor 101 is transmitted to the lifting mechanism of thecap 71, but not to the feeding roller 25. Further, in the second drivingstate, the driving force of the conveying motor 102 is transmitted tothe conveying roller 60, the discharging roller 62 and the pump 73.

The switching mechanism 170 is arranged on one side, in the mainscanning direction, with respect to the sheet passage range as shown inFIG. 3. Further, the switching mechanism 170 is arranged below the guiderail 43. As shown in FIGS. 5A and 5B, the switching mechanism 170 has aslidable member 171, driving gears 172 and 173, driven gears 174, 175and 176, a lever 177, springs 178 and 179 (which are examples of anurging member) and a supporting shaft 180.

The slidable member 171 is a substantially cylindrical member and issupported by the supporting shaft 180 which extends in the right-leftdirection (see FIGS. 5A and 5B). The sliding member 171 is configured tobe slidable in the right-left direction 9 along the supporting shaft 71.The sliding member 171 rotatably supports the driving gears 172 and 173,which are configured to be independently rotatable on the outercircumferential surface of the slidable member 171, at differentpositions in the right-left direction. It is noted that, in theright-left direction, the slidable member 171 moves integrally with thedriving gears 172 and 173.

The driving gear 172 rotates as the rotational driving force of thefeeding motor 101 is transmitted. It is noted that the driving gear 172engages with one of the driven gears 174 and 175. Specifically, thedriving gear 172 engages with the driven gear 174 when the switchingmechanism 170 is in the first driving state (see FIG. 5A), while thedriving gear 172 engages with the driven gear 175 when the switchingmechanism 170 is in the second driving state (see FIG. 5B).

The driving gear 173 rotates as the rotational driving force of theconveying motor 102 is transmitted. It is noted that the driving gear173 disengaged from the driven gear 176 when the switching mechanism 170is in the first driving state (see FIG. 5A), while the driving gear 173engages with the driven gear 176 when the switching mechanism 170 is inthe second driving state (see FIG. 5B).

The driven gear 174 engages with a gear train that rotates the feedingroller 25. That is, the rotational driving force of the feeding motor101 is transmitted to the feeding roller 25 as the driving gear 172engages with the driven gear 174. Further, the rotational driving forceof the feeding motor 101 is not transmitted to the feeding roller 25when the driving gear 172 is disengaged from the driven gear 174. Thedriven gear 175 engages with a gear train which is configured to drivethe lifting mechanism of the cap 71. Further, the rotational drivingforce of the feeding motor 101 is not transmitted to the liftingmechanism of the cap 71 when the driving gear 172 is disengaged from thedriven gear 175.

The driven gear 176 engages with a gear train that drives the pump 73.That is, the rotational driving force of the conveying motor 102 istransmitted to the pump 73 as the driving gear 173 engages with thedriven gear 176. Further, the rotational driving force of the conveyingmotor 102 is not transmitted to the pump 73 when the driving gear 173 isdisengaged from the driven gear 176. The rotational driving force of theconveying motor 102 is transmitted to the conveying roller 60 and thedischarging roller 62 with bypassing the switching mechanism 170. Thatis, the conveying roller 60 and the discharging roller 62 are driven bythe rotational driving force of the conveying motor 102, regardless ofthe driving state of the switching mechanism 170.

The lever 177 is supported by the supporting shaft 180 at a position, inthe right-left direction 9, on the right side of the slidable member171. Further, the lever 177 is configured to slide in the right-leftdirection 9, along the supporting shaft 180. Further, the lever 177protrudes upward. A tip end of the lever 177 extends through an opening43A formed on the guide rail 43 and reaches a position at which the tipend of the lever 177 could contact the carriage 23 in the right-leftdirection 9.

The springs 178 and 179 are supported by the supporting shaft 180. Thespring 178 is arranged such that one end (i.e., left end) thereofcontacts a frame of the printer 11, while the other end (i.e., rightend) thereof contacts a left surface of the slidable member 171. Thatis, the spring 178 urges the slidable member 171 and the lever 177 whichcontacts and urges the slidable member 171 rightward. The spring 179 isarranged such that one end (i.e., right end) thereof contacts the frameof the printer 11, while the other end (i.e., left end) thereof contactsthe right surface of the lever 177. That is, the spring 179 urges thelever 177 and the slidable member 171, which contacts the lever 177,leftward. Further, it is noted that the urging force of the spring 179is greater than that of the spring 178.

The switching mechanism 170 is in the first driving state (see FIG. 5A)when the carriage 23 is spaced from the lever 177. The lever 177, whichis pushed rightward by the carriage 23, moves rightward against theurging force of the spring 179. With this movement, the slidable member171 moves rightward, with following movement of the lever 177, by theurging force of the spring 178. As a result, the switching mechanism 170changes its state from the first driving state (see FIG. 5A) to thesecond driving state (see FIG. 5B).

When the carriage 23 is spaced from the lever 177 shown in FIG. 5B, theslidable member 171 and the lever 177 move leftward by the urging forceof the spring 179. As a result, the switching mechanism 170 changes itsstate from the second driving state (see FIG. 5B) to the first drivingstate (see FIG. 5A). That is, the state of the switching mechanism 170varies depending on whether the carriage 23 contacts the lever 177 ornot. In other words, a destination of the driving forces of the feedingmotor 101 and the conveying motor 102 are switched by the movement ofthe carriage 23.

<Scanner>

The scanner 90 is configured to execute a reading operation to read animage formed on an original and generate image data. The scanner 90 has,as shown in FIGS. 1 and 6, a contact glass 91 which supports theoriginal, a reading sensor 92 configured to read an image formed on thesheet which is supported on the contact glass 91, an FB (flatbed) cover93 which is arranged above the contact glass 91 so as to beopenable/closeable with respect to the scanner 90, and a cover sensor 94configured to detect a position of the FB cover 93. It is noted that thescanner 90 is a so-called flatbed type scanner. Optionally, an ADF (autodocument feeder) may be provided onto an upper surface of the FB cover93.

The contact glass 91 supports the original thereon. The contact glass 91is formed of translucent material. The contact glass 91 is an example ofa supporting table configured to support the original on its uppersurface. The reading sensor 92 is arranged below the contact glass 91and located at a position to face the contact glass 91. The readingsensor 92 is configured to be moved by a scanner motor 104 (see FIG. 6)in the right-left direction 9, which is an example of a readingdirection, between a standby position (i.e., the left end of FIG. 1A)and a returning position (i.e., the right end of FIG. 1A). Further, thereading sensor 92 has at least a light receiving element. It is notedthat, as to a light source, the reading sensor 92 is not necessarily beprovided with the same, and the light source may be arranged inside thescanner 90.

The reading sensor 92 is configured such that, when the reading sensor92 is moved from the standby position to the returning position by thescanner motor 104, the image formed on the original supported on thecontact glass 91 is read with a plurality of light receiving elements.Specifically, the image formed on the original is illuminated by lightemitted by the light source, and reflected light is received by theplurality of light receiving elements, thereby the image being read.When the image has been read with use of the plurality of lightreceiving elements, the reading sensor 92 is moved, by the scanner motor104, from the returning position to the standby position.

The FB cover 93 is configured to move between the opening position (seeFIG. 1A) and the closing position (see FIG. 1B). It is noted that, theFB cover 93 is rotatably supported on an outer peripheral portion of thescanner 90. When the FB cover 93 is located at the opening position, theupper surface of the contact glass 91 is exposed to outside.Accordingly, when the FB cover 93 is located at the opening position,the user can place the original sheet on the contact glass 9 and/orremove the original placed on the contact glass 91. When the FB cover 93is located at the closing position, the FB cover 93 covers the uppersurface of the contact glass 91.

The cover sensor 94 is configured to detect the location of the FB cover93. Specifically, the cover sensor 94 is configured to output differentdetection signals depending on the location of the FB cover 93. Thecover sensor 94 transmits a high-level signal (hereinafter, referred toas an opening signal) to the controller 130 when the FB cover 93 islocated at the opening position, while the cover sensor 94 transmits alow-level signal (hereinafter, referred to as a closing signal) to thecontroller 130 when the FB cover 93 is located at the closing position.

<Controller>

The controller 130 has a CPU (central processing unit) 131, a ROM (readonly memory) 132, a RAM (random access memory) 133, EEPROM (electricallyerasable programmable ROM) 134 and ASIC (application specific integratedcircuit) 135, which are interconnected via a bus 137, as shown in FIG.6. The ROM 132 stores programs to be executed by the CPU 131 to controloperations of the MFP 10. The RAM 133 is used as a storage area in whichthe CPU 131 temporarily stores data, signals and the like when the CPU131 executes respective programs stored in the ROM 132. The RAM 133 isalso used as a work area when the CPU 131 processes data. The EEPROM 134stores setting information and the like which should be retained afterthe MFP 10 is powered off.

The ASIC 135 is connected with the feeding motor 101, the conveyingmotor 102, the carriage motor 103 and the scanner motor 104. The ASIC135 generates driving signals to rotate respective motors, and controlsthe motors based on the driving signal, respectively. Each motor isconfigured to forwardly or reversely in accordance with the drivingsignal transmitted from the ASIC 135. The controller 130 is configuredto control the inkjet head 39 to eject the ink through the nozzles 40.

Further, an operation panel 17 is also connected to the ASIC 135. Theoperation panel 17 is configured to transmit an operation signalcorresponding to a user operation to the controller 130. The operationpanel 17 may have depression buttons and/or a touch sensor overlaid on adisplay. The controller 130 controls each of the motors 101-104 and theinkjet head 39 in accordance with operation signals transmitted from theoperation panel 17. Further, the controller 130 is configured to receivea user operation to designate an operation mode, according to which thescanner 90 is controlled to execute the scanning operation, through theoperation panel 17. There are two operation modes, which a first modeand a second mode in which a scan execution time is longer than that inthe first mode.

Further, the ASIC 135 is connected with the registration sensor 120, therotary encoder 121, the carriage sensor 38, and the cover sensor 94. Thecontroller 130 detects the position of the sheet 12 based on thedetection signal transmitted from the registration sensor 120 and thepulse signal transmitted from the rotary encoder 121. Further, thecontroller 130 detects the position of the carriage 23 based on thepulse signal transmitted from the carriage sensor 38. Furthermore, thecontroller 130 detects the position of the FB cover 93 based on thedetection signal transmitted from the cover sensor 94.

<Copying Process>

Hereinafter, a copying process will be described referring to FIGS. 7-9.It is noted that the copying process includes a scanning process inwhich the scanner 90 is caused to execute the reading operation.Further, the copying process includes the print process to cause theprinter 11 to execute the printing operation to print the image datagenerated in the reading operation. It is noted that respectiveprocesses described below may be executed as the CPU 131 retrievesprograms stored in the ROM 132, or realized by hardware circuitsimplemented to the controller 130. Further, an execution order ofrespective processes may be changed within such a range as not changethe scope of the present disclosures.

The controller 130 executes the scanning process shown in FIG. 7. Asshown in FIG. 7, at the beginning of the scanning process, thecontroller 130 terminates the scanning process in response to no changeof the detection signal output by the cover sensor 04 (S11: NO).Thereafter, the controller 130 re-starts the scanning process at aparticular control timing.

The controller 130 starts a pre-reading process (S12) in response tochange of the detection signal output by the cover sensor 94 from theclosing signal to the opening signal (i.e., the position of the FB cover93 being moved from the closing position to the opening position) (S11:YES). The pre-reading process is to bring the scanner 90 in a state toexecute the reading operation. For example, the pre-reading processincludes a light amount adjustment process, a process to detectpresence/absence of the original sheet on the contact glass 91, aprocess of detecting the size of the original sheet, and a process ofdetecting the placed orientation of the original sheet.

Optionally, the controller 130 may be configured to execute thepre-reading process in response to change of the detection signal outputby the cover sensor 94 from the opening signal to the closing signal inS11. In this case, the controller 130 may executes the pre-readingprocess in response to the change of the detection signal output by thecover sensor 94.

The controller 130 executes the following operations in the light amountadjustment process. Firstly, the controller 130 causes a light source ofthe scanner to emit light having a particular intensity to a plateprovided at the first position. Next, the controller 130 measures alight reception level of the light, which is reflected by the plate andreceived by the light receiving element. Then, the controller 130adjusts the intensity of the light emitted by the light source so thatthe measured light reception level is equal to a particular referencevalue. It is noted that a color of the plate is a reference color (e.g.,white) of which brightness value is higher than that of the normal sheet12. It is noted that the first position is a position which is differentfrom the position of the contact glass 91 and at which the plate canface the reading sensor 92.

The controller 130 causes the reading sensor 92 located at the secondposition to detect the presence/absence of the original, the size of theoriginal and the orientation of the original in the pre-reading process.Further, the controller 130 causes the scanner motor 104 to move thereading sensor 92 to the standby position. It is noted that the secondposition is a position at which the reading sensor 92 is covered withthe original regardless of the size of the original placed on thecontact glass 91.

The controller 130 waits for reception of a copy instruction through theoperation panel 17 (S13), while executing the pre-reading process. Thecopy instruction is an instruction to print an image which is formed onthe original placed on the contact glass 91 onto the sheet 12. Inresponse to receipt of the copy instruction through the operation panel17 (S13: YES), the controller 130 determines whether the pre-readingprocess has been finished (S14). According to FIG. 7, receipt of thecopy instruction occurs earlier than finish of the pre-reading. However,according to aspects of the disclosures, whichever one of a timing atwhich the copy instruction is input and a timing at which thepre-reading process is finished could be earlier than the other.

In response to receipt of the copy instruction through the operationpanel 17, and in response to completion of the pre-reading process (S13:YES; and S14: YES), the controller 130 executes the reading process(S15). The reading process is a process of causing the scanner 90 toexecute the reading operation in accordance with the operation modedesignated by the user. When the reading operation starts, the scanner90 causes the scanner motor 104 to move the reading sensor 92 from thestandby position to the returning position, and during the movement ofthe reading sensor 92, the scanner 90 causes the reading sensor 92 toread the image formed on the original. The scanner 90 graduallygenerates the image data representing the image read by the readingsensor 92 with the movement of the reading sensor 92. Further, thescanner 90 causes the scanner motor 104 to move the reading sensor 92having reached the returning position to the standby position.

It is noted that the controller 130 executes the print process shown inFIG. 8 in response to reception of the copy instruction through theoperation panel 17 (S13: YES), regardless whether the pre-readingprocess is finished. That is, the controller 130 executes steps S14onwards of FIG. 7 and steps S21 onward of FIG. 8 in parallel. In theprint process, the controller 130 executes a standby period determiningprocess (S21). The standby period determining process is a process ofdetermining a time period from the reception of the copy instruction tostart of a pre-print process (described later) in accordance with theoperation mode of the reading operation.

Referring to FIG. 9, the standby period determining process will bedescribed in detail. The controller 130 obtains a reading condition,which includes a reading resolution and an orientation of the original(hereinafter, referred to as an original orientation). The readingresolution represents a resolution of image data which is generated bythe scanner 90. The original orientation represents a relationshipbetween the original placed on the contact glass 91 and the readingdirection. It is noted that the original orientation is one of a “longdirection” meaning that a longer side of the original is aligned alongthe reading direction and a “short direction” meaning that a shorterside of the original is aligned along the reading direction. The readingresolution and the original orientation are, for example, designated bythe user through the operation panel 17.

The controller 130 obtains a printing condition in S32. It is noted thatthe printing condition obtained in S32 includes, for example, anorientation of the sheet (hereinafter, referred to as a sheetorientation) and a post-ejection period. The sheet orientation isinformation indicating a relationship between the orientation of thesheet 12 conveyed to the position facing the printer assembly 24 and themain scanning direction. The sheet orientation is one of a “longdirection” meaning that a longer side of the sheet 12 is aligned alongthe main scanning direction and a “short direction” meaning that ashorter side of the sheet 12 is aligned along the main scanningdirection. The post-ejection period is an elapsed time since the ink waslastly ejected from the inkjet head 39. The sheet orientation has been,for example, designated by the user in advance through the operationpanel 17. It is noted that the post-ejection period is a periodmeasured, for example, by the ASIC 135.

Next, in response to the reading resolution obtained in S31 being lessthan a threshold resolution (S33: LOW), the controller 130 determines afirst value as an execution period T1 (S34). Further, in response to thereading resolution obtained in S31 being equal to or greater than thethreshold resolution (S33: HIGH), the controller 130 determines a secondvalue, which is greater than the first value, as the execution period T1(S35). It is noted that the execution period T1 represents a time periodnecessary for generating image data which is necessary to start an imageprinting process (described later) in the reading operation inaccordance with the operation mode. Information containing the firstvalue and the second value is store, for example, in the ROM 132 or theEEPROM 134.

That is, the controller 130 assumes that the execution period T1 of thereading operation which is executed at the reading resolution equal toor higher than the threshold resolution is longer than that of thereading operation which is executed at the reading resolution lower thanthe threshold resolution. In other words, the controller 130 makes theexecution period T1 longer as the designated reading resolution ishigher. It is noted that the reading resolution lower than the thresholdresolution is an example of the first mode, while the reading resolutionequal to or higher than the threshold resolution is an example of thesecond mode. A process configured by the operations of S33-S35 is anexample of a first assuming process in which the execution period T1 isassumed in accordance with the operation mode.

Next, in response to the original orientation obtained in S31 matchingthe sheet orientation obtained in S32 (S36: YES), the controller 130multiplies the execution period T1 determined in S34 or S35 by acoefficient α (S37). The coefficient α corresponds to, for example, thenumber of executions of ejection processes (S19) to print an image on asingle sheet 12 (hereinafter, occasionally referred to as a passnumber). The controller 130 skips S37 in response to the originalorientation obtained in S31 not matching the sheet orientation obtainedin S32 (S36: NO).

When the original orientation and the sheet orientation are coincidewith each other (i.e., a so-called memory copy being executed),substantially an entire area of the original should be read in thereading process in order to start the image printing process. When theoriginal orientation and the sheet orientation are not coincide witheach other (i.e., a so-called direct printing being executed), an areaof the original corresponding to a length of the nozzle surface alongthe conveying direction 16 (hereinafter, referred to as a pass) is to beread in the reading process in order to start the image printingprocess.

Thus, the controller 130 assumes that the execution period T1 of thereading operation when the original orientation is coincide with thesheet orientation is longer than that when the original orientation isnot coincide with the sheet orientation. In other words, the controller130 makes the execution period T be longer as an area of the original tobe read is larger before the image printing process is started. It isnoted that a state where the original orientation is not coincide withthe sheet orientation is an example of the first mode, while a statewhere the original orientation is coincide with the sheet orientation isan example of the second mode.

Next, the controller determines a third value as an execution period T2in response to the post-ejection period obtained in S32 being less thanthe threshold period (S38: SHORT) in S39. In response to thepost-ejection period obtained in S32 being equal to or greater than thethreshold period (S38: LONG), the controller 130 determines a fourthvalue as the execution period T2 (S40). It is noted that the executionperiod T2 represents a time period necessary for executing the pre-printprocess. Information containing the third value and the fourth value isstored, for example, in the ROM 132 or the EEPROM 134. A processrealized by the steps S38-S40 is an example of a second assuming processto assume the execution period T2.

The pre-print process includes a flashing process in which the carriage23 is moved to a position facing the ink receiver 75 and the inkjet head39 is caused to eject the ink. The controller 130 makes an ejectionamount of the ink in the flashing process be greater as thepost-ejection period is longer. That is, the controller 130 makes theexecution period T2 be longer as the post-ejection period is longer, orthe execution period of the flashing process is longer.

Next, the controller 130 determines a remaining period T3 of thepre-reading process (S41). The controller 130 calculates the remainingperiod T3 by subtracting an elapsed time period from the start of thepre-reading process in S12 to the current time from a necessary timeperiod, which is particularly determined, for executing the pre-readingprocess. It is noted that the process in S41 is an example of a thirdassuming process. Then, in S42, the controller 130 determines thestandby period according to the following equation:Standby Period=(T1+T3)−T2.It is noted that the process of S42 is an example of a calculationprocess.

It is noted that the standby period is a time period from reception ofthe copy instruction to the start of the pre-print process. Thecontroller 130 determines the standby period such that the pre-readingprocess is finished before the image data required to start the imageprinting process is generated in the reading process. In other words,the controller 130 determines the standby period such that thepre-reading process is finished at the same time or immediately beforethe image data necessary for starting the image printing process isgenerated in the reading process. It is noted that the standby periodwhen the operation mode is the first mode is an example of the firstperiod, and the standby period when the operation mode is the secondmode is an example of the second period, which is longer than the firstperiod.

Returning to FIG. 8, the controller 130 waits for execution of thepre-print process until the elapsed period since the copy instructionwas received in S13 reaches the standby period determined in S21 (S22).In response to the standby period has elapsed since the copy instructionwas received (S22: YES), the controller 130 executes the pre-printprocess (S23). The pre-print process is a process to bring the printer11 into a state where the printing operation can be executed. It isnoted that the state where the printing operation can be executed is,for example, a state where images having a particular or higher qualitycan be recorded. The pre-print process includes, for example, a boostingprocess, an uncapping process, a switching process, the aforementionedflashing process, a feeding process and a heading process. At a point oftime when the pre-print process is started, the switching mechanism 170is in the second driving state, and the cap 71 is located at the capposition.

The boosting process is a process to apply voltages to a power sourcecircuit of the MFP 10 and to a head circuit of the inkjet head 39, forexample, to charge a condenser of each circuit. The uncapping process isa process to drive the feeding motor 101 to move the cap 71 from the capposition to the uncap position. The switching process is a process todrive the carriage motor 103 to move the carriage 23 away from the lever177, thereby change the state of the switching mechanism 170 from thesecond driving state to the first driving state.

The flashing process is a process to drive the carriage motor 103 tomove the carriage 23 to a position facing the ink receiver 75, and causethe inkjet head 39 to eject the ink. The feeding process is a process tofeed the sheets 12 supported on the feed tray 20 until the sheet 12reaches the conveying roller assembly 54 with the feeding assembly 15 bydriving the feeding motor 101. The heading process is a process to drivethe conveying motor 102 to cause the conveying roller assembly 54 toconvey the sheet 12, which has reached the conveying roller assembly 54,until the leading end of the sheet 12 is located at a position facingthe inkjet head 39.

It is noted that there is no specific execution order of respectiveprocesses included in the pre-print process. However, the uncappingprocess should be executed before the switching process and the flashingprocess. Further, the boosting process and the switching process shouldbe executed before the flashing process. Furthermore, the feedingprocess should be executed before the heading process. Typically, thecontroller 130 executes the boosting process, the uncapping process, theswitching process and the flashing process in this order, while executesthe flashing process, the feeding process and the heading process inparallel.

It is noted that the pre-reading process (S12-S14) and the pre-printprocess (S23) may be executed in parallel. Further, the reading process(S15) and the pre-print process (S23) may be executed in parallel. Thereading process (S15) should be executed after the pre-reading processis completed (S14: YES). Further, the controller 130 executes the imageprinting process (S24-S27) in response to completion of at least a partof the reading process (S15) and the pre-print process (S23). That is, apart of the reading process (S15) and the image printing process(S24-S27) may be executed in parallel.

It is noted that “at least a part of the reading process” is a processin which the image data representing a part of an image subjected to aninitial ejection process from the image formed on the original supportedon the contact glass 91 is generated. When the operation mode is thedirect copy mode, the image data necessary for the initial ejectionprocess is the image data representing the part of the image to berecorded in the initial pass, or the image data representing 1/α of theimage formed on the original. When the operation mode is the memorycopy, the image data necessary for the initial ejection process is theimage data representing the entire image formed on the original.

The controller 130 causes the printer 11 to execute the printingoperation (S24-S27) based on the image data generated in the readingprocess. It is noted that the process in steps S24-S27 is an example ofthe image printing process. The printing operation includes, forexample, the ejection process (S24) and the conveying process (S26)which are executed alternately, and the discharging process (S27). Theejection process (S24) is a process to cause the inkjet head 39 to ejectthe ink to an area on the sheet 12 facing the inkjet head 39. Theconveying process (S26) is a process to cause the conveying assembly toconvey the sheet 12 by a particular conveying amount in the conveyingdirection. The discharging process (S27) is a process to causes thedischarge roller assembly 55 to discharge the sheet 12 on which theimage has been recorded onto the discharge tray 21. The number a ofexecutions of the ejecting process is, for example, determined based onthe size the sheet orientation of the sheet 12.

The controller 130 drives the carriage motor 103 to move the carriage 23from one of the sheet passage range to the other end, with causing theinkjet head 39 to eject ink droplets at appropriate timings (S24). Next,in response to the image data for the next pass having been generated inthe reading process (S25: YES), the controller 130 drives the conveyingmotor 102 to cause at least one of the conveying roller assembly 54 andthe discharge roller assembly 55 to convey the sheet 12 to a position atwhich an area on which the image of the next pass is to be formed facesthe inkjet head 39. The controller 130 repeats the process of S24 andS26 until the images of all the passes are printed (S25: YES). Then, inresponse to the images of all the passes have been printed (S25: NO),the controller 130 controls the conveying motor 102 so that thedischarge roller assembly 55 discharges the sheet 12 onto the dischargetray 12 (S27).

The length of the execution period T1 of the reading process variesdepending on the operation mode. Similarly, the execution period T2 ofthe pre-print process varies depending on the post-ejection period.Therefore the execution periods T1 and T2 are respectively assumed basedon various parameters, and (T2-T1) is determined as the standby period.With this configuration, a timing at which the image data necessary forstarting the image printing process is generated and a timing at whichthe pre-print process is finished are made to be close to each other. Asa result, the FCOT can be shortened, and drying of the ink inside theinkjet head 39 can be suppressed.

According to the disclosure, the standby period from the reception ofthe copy instruction to the start of the pre-printing operation ischanged in accordance with the execution of the reading operation, whichis different based on the operation mode. With this configuration, sincethe end of the pre-printing operation is deferred, it becomes possibleto suppress elongation of the FCOT. It is also noted that drying of theink inside the uncapped inkjet head 39 which is uncapped as thepre-printing operation was finished too early. As a result, the FCOT canbe shortened, and drying of the ink inside the inkjet head 39 can besuppressed.

As one example, the execution period T1 is assumed taking the readingresolution into consideration (S33-S35), accuracy in length of theexecution period T1 is raised. As another example, the execution periodT1 is assumed taking an area of the original to be read intoconsideration before the image printing process is started (S36, S37),accuracy in length of the execution period T1 is raised. As a result, atiming at which the image data necessary for starting the image printingprocess is generated and a timing at which the pre-print process isfinished are made to be closer to each other. It is noted that a processof steps S33-S35 or a process of S36 and S27 may be omitted.

As a further example, the execution period T2 is assumed taking theexecution period of the flashing process (S38-S40), accuracy in lengthof the execution period T2 is raised. As a result, it becomes possiblethat a time at which the image data necessary to start the imageprinting process is generated and a time at which the pre-print processis finished are closer to each other. Further, since the flashingprocess, the feeding process and the heading process are executed inparallel in the pre-print process, a time period from completion of thepre-print process to the start of the image printing process can beshortened.

It is noted that a method of assuming the execution periods T1 and T2 isnot limited to that described above. As an example, the controller 130may assume a particular fixed value as the execution period T1 in thefirst assuming process. For example, different fixed values may bestored in the ROM 132 or the EEPROM 134 in association with the readingresolution, the original orientation and the sheet orientation. Further,the controller 130 may select one of the fixed values based on thereading condition and printing condition included in the copyinstruction, and assumes the selected fixed value as the executionperiod T1. Further, in S37, it is defined that T1=T1×α. However, acalculation method needs not be limited to the described one, andanother equation such as T1=T1+t may be employed.

Similarly, the controller 130 may assume a particular fixed value as theexecution period T2 in the second assuming process. As another example,the controller 130 may measure actual execution periods of respectiveprocesses every time when the reading process and the pre-print processare executed, and store the measured execution periods in the EEPROM134. In such a case, the controller 130 may assume an average value ofthe execution periods of the past reading processes as the executionperiod T1 in the first assuming process. Similarly, the controller 130may assume an average value of the execution periods of the pastpre-print processes as the execution period T2 in the second assumingprocess.

The calculation method of the execution period needs not be limited tothe above-described ones. For example, the calculation method of theexecution period may be modified based on the operation mode of thereading operation. That is, the controller 130 may calculate theexecution period in accordance with the above-described method when theoperation mode is the second mode, while the controller 130 maydetermine the remaining period T3 assumed in S41 as the execution periodwhen the operation mode is the first mode. That is, the controller 130may start the reading process and the pre-print process at the same timein response to completion of the pre-reading process.

If a time period after the FB cover 93 is located to the closingposition till the copy instruction is received is short, the pre-readingprocess may not be completed at a timing when the copy instruction isreceived. If the standby period is determined taking the remainingperiod T2 of the pre-reading process into account, drying of the inkcould further be suppressed. In this case, it is noted that S41 can beomitted.

What is claimed is:
 1. A printer comprising: a scanner; a printing unit;and a controller configured to: receive a copy instruction; cause thescanner to read an image formed on an original in response to thereception of the copy instruction; generate image data representing theread image; assume a first execution period during which the image datanecessary to start generating image is generated; assume a secondexecution period of a preparing process for preparing the printing unitto be caused to print an image; calculate a standby period based on theassumed first execution period and the assumed second execution period;execute the preparing process in response to an elapse of the calculatedstandby period from the reception of the copy instruction; and cause theprinting unit to print the image based on the image data aftercompletion of the preparing process.
 2. The printer according to claim1, wherein the printing unit includes an inkjet head.
 3. The printeraccording to claim 2, wherein the controller is configured to make thesecond execution period be longer as an elapsed period since the inkjethead previously ejected the ink is longer in the assumption of thesecond execution period.
 4. The printer according to claim 2, furthercomprising a cap movable between a cap position and an uncap position,wherein the cap covers the inkjet head when located at the cap position,while the cap uncovers the inkjet head when located at the uncapposition, wherein execution of the preparing process comprises movingthe cap from the cap position to the uncap position.
 5. The printeraccording to claim 4, further comprising an ink receiver configured toreceive ink ejected by the inkjet head, the ink receiver arranged at aposition outside a sheet passage range in a main scanning direction,wherein the controller is configured to cause the inkjet head to ejectthe ink at a position to face the ink receiver after the cap is moved tothe uncap position in the preparing process, wherein a period of timeduring which the ink is ejected increases as an elapsed time after theinkjet head previously ejected ink increases.
 6. The printer accordingto claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to make the firstexecution period be longer as a reading resolution for reading the imageformed on the original is higher in the assumption of the firstexecution period.
 7. The printer according to claim 1, wherein thecontroller is configured to make the first execution period be longer asan area of the original to be read by the scanner before causing theprinting unit to print the image is larger in the assumption of thefirst execution period.
 8. The printer according to claim 1, furthercomprising an operation panel, wherein the controller is configured toreceive the copy instruction through the operation panel.
 9. A printercomprising: a scanner; a printing unit; and a controller configured to:receive a copy instruction; cause the scanner to read an image formed onan original in response to the reception of the copy instruction;generate image data representing the read image; determine a standbyperiod such that a preparing process for preparing the printing unit tobe caused to print an image executed in parallel with reading the imageon the original finishes at the same time or immediately beforegeneration of image data necessary to start to print the read image;execute the preparing process in response to an elapse of the determinedstandby period from the reception of the copy instruction; and cause theprinting unit to print the image based on the image data aftercompletion of the preparing process.
 10. The printer according to claim9, wherein the printing unit includes an inkjet head.
 11. The printeraccording to claim 10, wherein the controller is configured to make thestandby period be shorter as an elapsed period since the inkjet headpreviously ejected the ink is longer in the determination of the standbyperiod.
 12. The printer according to claim 10, further comprising a capmovable between a cap position and an uncap position, wherein the capcovers the inkjet head when located at the cap position, while the capuncovers the inkjet head when located at the uncap position, whereinexecution of the preparing process comprises moving the cap from the capposition to the uncap position.
 13. The printer according to claim 12,further comprising an ink receiver configured to receive ink ejected bythe inkjet head, the ink receiver arranged at a position outside a sheetpassage range in a main scanning direction, wherein the controller isconfigured to cause the inkjet head to eject the ink at a position toface the ink receiver after the cap is moved to the uncap position inthe preparing process, wherein a period of time during which the ink isejected increases as an elapsed time after the inkjet head previouslyejected ink increases.
 14. The printer according to claim 9, wherein thecontroller is configured to make the standby period be longer as areading resolution in the reading of the image formed on the original ishigher in the determination of the standby period.
 15. The printeraccording to claim 9, wherein the controller is configured to make thestandby period be longer as an area of the original to be read by thescanner before causing the printing unit to print the image is larger inthe determination of the standby period.
 16. The printer according toclaim 9, further comprising an operation panel, wherein the controlleris configured to receive the copy instruction through the operationpanel.